Thruster inventor Simon Anderson into Hall fo Fame
Thruster inventor Simon Anderson into Hall fo Fame
Surf History
Simon Anderson joins roster of 2011 Surfers' Hall of Fame inductees
Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 4 April, 2011 : - - Simon Anderson, an Australian surfer/board shaper best known for developing the “Thruster” design of three equal-size fins, will be inducted into the 2011 Surfers’ Hall of Fame. Anderson will join George Downing, Taylor Knox and Chuck Linnen as they have their hand and footprints immortalized in cement for the ages on Friday, August 5 at 10:00 a.m. in front of Huntington Surf & Sport.
Famed sports announcer/commentator David Stanfield and five-time U.S. Surfing Champion Corky Carroll will serve as Masters of Ceremony. Information is available at hsssurf.com/shof
Raised in Sydney, Simon Anderson began his competitive career in 1971 with a juniors win at the Australian National Titles and the Bells Beach Classic contests. Known for his power and easygoing style, Anderson became a frontrunner in many local and international competitions, placing second in the Australian National Titles in 76’, fourth at the 77’ Pipeline Masters, and winning the 77’ Bells and Coke Surfabout. Those wins in 77’, on single-fin boards, put him into the top 10 on the ASP Tour and gave him a chance of taking the title, until the twin-fin intervened.
Fellow Aussie Mark Richards had created a twin-fin design which greatly helped sharp turns on steep waves, by always having one fin deep in the wave. The twin-fin was capable of performing in the poor wave conditions and locations that the ASP events were often held at that time. Within months, surfers on this design were winning most of the competitions, but it was badly unsuited to Anderson's size (over six feet tall) and style. He simply overpowered the twin fin and didn't like the idea of having to 'nurse' the board through turns, and stated at the time that he wasn't going to compromise his surfing to adapt to the design.
That’s when Anderson went to work on perfecting the existing three fin concept (a single fin with two smaller outer fins) for added power and stability. His prototype featured three equal-size fins so he named it “Thruster” because the water gets pushed through the fins in the turn. According to Anderson, the single fin (just) holds that speed through a turn whereas with the twin fins, obviously the speed was quickly released and you'd just zip along. The third fin was controlling that thrust throughout the turn.
Anderson’s Thruster design was met with skepticism initially, thought perhaps merely a gimmick, or only for Anderson's particular size and style. Following design enhancements in 1981, he won the Bells Beach Classic and the Coke Surfabout in Sydney, for a second time, then later the Pipe Masters at Banzai Pipeline in Hawaii. Those victories silenced the critics and brought the thruster to everyone's attention; from 1984 onward every world champion has used a thruster.
“What Steve Jobs (CEO of Apple) and the “iPhone and iPad” have done for the World, Simon Anderson and the “Thruster” have done for the Sport of Surfing’” said Surfers’ Hall of Fame founder Aaron Pai. “Just as the iPhone and iPad revolutionized consumer technology; the Thruster revolutionized and advanced our Sport of Surfing!
“Simon has given generations of surfers the gift of progression and the ability to do what they can do today! We are honored and extremely excited that Simon Anderson will be inducted into the Surfers’ Hall of Fame this summer!”
The nation’s first imprint collection of legendary surfers, the Surfers’ Hall of Fame celebrated its first induction in 1997 inside of specialty retailer Huntington Surf & Sport where several slabs remain. Four years later with the blessing of the City Council and a stunning bronze statue of sport’s spiritual leader Duke Kahanamoku serving as a backdrop, the ceremony moved outside to the corner of PCH and Main; less than 100 feet from the famed Huntington Beach Pier, site of the U.S. Open of Surfing.
The Surfers’ Hall of Fame induction ceremony is open to the public, free-of-charge.
http://hsssurf.com/shof
Surf History
Simon Anderson joins roster of 2011 Surfers' Hall of Fame inductees
Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 4 April, 2011 : - - Simon Anderson, an Australian surfer/board shaper best known for developing the “Thruster” design of three equal-size fins, will be inducted into the 2011 Surfers’ Hall of Fame. Anderson will join George Downing, Taylor Knox and Chuck Linnen as they have their hand and footprints immortalized in cement for the ages on Friday, August 5 at 10:00 a.m. in front of Huntington Surf & Sport.
Famed sports announcer/commentator David Stanfield and five-time U.S. Surfing Champion Corky Carroll will serve as Masters of Ceremony. Information is available at hsssurf.com/shof
Raised in Sydney, Simon Anderson began his competitive career in 1971 with a juniors win at the Australian National Titles and the Bells Beach Classic contests. Known for his power and easygoing style, Anderson became a frontrunner in many local and international competitions, placing second in the Australian National Titles in 76’, fourth at the 77’ Pipeline Masters, and winning the 77’ Bells and Coke Surfabout. Those wins in 77’, on single-fin boards, put him into the top 10 on the ASP Tour and gave him a chance of taking the title, until the twin-fin intervened.
Fellow Aussie Mark Richards had created a twin-fin design which greatly helped sharp turns on steep waves, by always having one fin deep in the wave. The twin-fin was capable of performing in the poor wave conditions and locations that the ASP events were often held at that time. Within months, surfers on this design were winning most of the competitions, but it was badly unsuited to Anderson's size (over six feet tall) and style. He simply overpowered the twin fin and didn't like the idea of having to 'nurse' the board through turns, and stated at the time that he wasn't going to compromise his surfing to adapt to the design.
That’s when Anderson went to work on perfecting the existing three fin concept (a single fin with two smaller outer fins) for added power and stability. His prototype featured three equal-size fins so he named it “Thruster” because the water gets pushed through the fins in the turn. According to Anderson, the single fin (just) holds that speed through a turn whereas with the twin fins, obviously the speed was quickly released and you'd just zip along. The third fin was controlling that thrust throughout the turn.
Anderson’s Thruster design was met with skepticism initially, thought perhaps merely a gimmick, or only for Anderson's particular size and style. Following design enhancements in 1981, he won the Bells Beach Classic and the Coke Surfabout in Sydney, for a second time, then later the Pipe Masters at Banzai Pipeline in Hawaii. Those victories silenced the critics and brought the thruster to everyone's attention; from 1984 onward every world champion has used a thruster.
“What Steve Jobs (CEO of Apple) and the “iPhone and iPad” have done for the World, Simon Anderson and the “Thruster” have done for the Sport of Surfing’” said Surfers’ Hall of Fame founder Aaron Pai. “Just as the iPhone and iPad revolutionized consumer technology; the Thruster revolutionized and advanced our Sport of Surfing!
“Simon has given generations of surfers the gift of progression and the ability to do what they can do today! We are honored and extremely excited that Simon Anderson will be inducted into the Surfers’ Hall of Fame this summer!”
The nation’s first imprint collection of legendary surfers, the Surfers’ Hall of Fame celebrated its first induction in 1997 inside of specialty retailer Huntington Surf & Sport where several slabs remain. Four years later with the blessing of the City Council and a stunning bronze statue of sport’s spiritual leader Duke Kahanamoku serving as a backdrop, the ceremony moved outside to the corner of PCH and Main; less than 100 feet from the famed Huntington Beach Pier, site of the U.S. Open of Surfing.
The Surfers’ Hall of Fame induction ceremony is open to the public, free-of-charge.
http://hsssurf.com/shof
S BOARDS 2011
There will be a few things happening in 2011, primarily with board development. I'm working on a new SXE model called not surprisingly SXE3, a new Mollusc, a new DSC and you can't help but work on more small wave boards. We will continue to refine and hopefully improve most of the range,probably drop some models out while bringing new ones in.
This year is the 30th anniversary of the Thruster's unveiling at the 1981 Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach contest, so that's a decade for every fin.
Machines - I'm very excited about the way our machine is cutting the pre-shapes we use, and that is cleanly and consistently, giving me a great foundation to work from. With the APS machine cutting consistency I can really get creative on the software program and develop the designs beautifully. What this means to you is that custom orders or the Simon stock boards you see in the shop will be accurate with the right balance of rail volume, thickness distribution, rocker curve and outline curve.
Surftech –
We are introducing the XFC and Mollusc models to the Surftech Tuflite range this year. So if you are a fan of the sandwich construction boards have a look at our small range in Surftech Dealer Shops.
In the XFC model the 3 board range are all single to double concave, rounded square tails and FCS fin system.
The XFC dimensions -
6'6 x 20 x 2 11/16 6'4 x 19 x 2 1/2
6'2 x 18 3/4 2 3/8
In the Mollusc the 3 boards are all FCS including -
6'10 x 21 x 2 3/4 Swallow tail single to double concave with vee at the swallow.
6'4 x 20 1/4 x 2 5/8 Roundtail single to double concave
6'2 x 20 x 2 /12 Roundtail single to double
Surftech also have a new range called Ultraflx, which is a new style epoxy board with interesting flex patterns.
You can check out my range of boards and get info on these technologies if you go to the Surftech website:
www.surftechaustralia.com.au
They are not listed in the US Surftech website as yet.
The Ultraflx range includes 4 XFC boards all rounded square tails, and 4 DK quad model boards all swallow tails, and all featuring the FCS fin system.
The XFC's include -
6'3 x 19 x 2 7/16 single to double concave
6'2 x 18 3/4 x 2 3/8 single to double
6'1 x 18 5/8 x 2 5/16 single concave
6'0 x 18 3/8 x 2 1/4 single concave
The DK boards are single to double concave but with vee in the back half of the board on the bottom, the double concave cuts through this moderate vee deepest at the forward fins and still substantial at the swallow tail.
Dimensions include -
6'0 x 20 1/4 x 2 1/2
5'11 x 20 x 2 7/16
5'10 x 19 3/4 x 2 3/8
We will be adding to the Quad Ultraflx range with a 6'6, 6'4 and 6'2 DK board.
Team - To see a few waves of Adam Robertson surfing his home turf way down South of Torquay last week go to: http://vimeo.com/18523644 . See you in the surf,Simon
This year is the 30th anniversary of the Thruster's unveiling at the 1981 Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach contest, so that's a decade for every fin.
Machines - I'm very excited about the way our machine is cutting the pre-shapes we use, and that is cleanly and consistently, giving me a great foundation to work from. With the APS machine cutting consistency I can really get creative on the software program and develop the designs beautifully. What this means to you is that custom orders or the Simon stock boards you see in the shop will be accurate with the right balance of rail volume, thickness distribution, rocker curve and outline curve.
Surftech –
We are introducing the XFC and Mollusc models to the Surftech Tuflite range this year. So if you are a fan of the sandwich construction boards have a look at our small range in Surftech Dealer Shops.
In the XFC model the 3 board range are all single to double concave, rounded square tails and FCS fin system.
The XFC dimensions -
6'6 x 20 x 2 11/16 6'4 x 19 x 2 1/2
6'2 x 18 3/4 2 3/8
In the Mollusc the 3 boards are all FCS including -
6'10 x 21 x 2 3/4 Swallow tail single to double concave with vee at the swallow.
6'4 x 20 1/4 x 2 5/8 Roundtail single to double concave
6'2 x 20 x 2 /12 Roundtail single to double
Surftech also have a new range called Ultraflx, which is a new style epoxy board with interesting flex patterns.
You can check out my range of boards and get info on these technologies if you go to the Surftech website:
www.surftechaustralia.com.au
They are not listed in the US Surftech website as yet.
The Ultraflx range includes 4 XFC boards all rounded square tails, and 4 DK quad model boards all swallow tails, and all featuring the FCS fin system.
The XFC's include -
6'3 x 19 x 2 7/16 single to double concave
6'2 x 18 3/4 x 2 3/8 single to double
6'1 x 18 5/8 x 2 5/16 single concave
6'0 x 18 3/8 x 2 1/4 single concave
The DK boards are single to double concave but with vee in the back half of the board on the bottom, the double concave cuts through this moderate vee deepest at the forward fins and still substantial at the swallow tail.
Dimensions include -
6'0 x 20 1/4 x 2 1/2
5'11 x 20 x 2 7/16
5'10 x 19 3/4 x 2 3/8
We will be adding to the Quad Ultraflx range with a 6'6, 6'4 and 6'2 DK board.
Team - To see a few waves of Adam Robertson surfing his home turf way down South of Torquay last week go to: http://vimeo.com/18523644 . See you in the surf,Simon
